Traffic Violation Points System Adds Up During License Suspension

Most convictions for traffic violations result in a fine and not the immediate loss of driving privileges. Contesting your traffic ticket may not seem worth the time or cost if the fine amount is inconsequential to you. However, being convicted for three traffic violations within a year's time will result in your driver’s license being suspended or revoked. Illinois has a points system for traffic offenses that determines the duration of the suspension.

Keeping Score

Serious offenses, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, require an automatic suspension of your driver’s license. For lesser offenses, a certain number of points is added to your driving record for each conviction. Illinois has a list of more than 100 traffic offenses, with point values ranging from 5 to 55. Highlights include:

Speeding: Traveling 10 or fewer miles per hour over the speed limit is 5 points. Traveling 11 to 14 miles per hour over is 15 points, 15 to 25 miles per hour over is 20 points, and more than 25 miles per hour over is 50 points.

Failure to Stop or Signal: Not using your turn signal is 15 points. Disregarding a stop sign or traffic control device is 20 points. The failure to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle is 15 points, while the failure to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian is 20 points.

Accidents and Reckless Driving: The failure to stop and exchange information after a traffic accident is 25 points if only vehicles or personal properties are involved and 50 points if a person is injured or killed. A reckless driving conviction is 55 points.

Suspension

The points that have accumulated on a driving record determine how long a driver’s license is suspended after he or she has three traffic violation convictions in one year, including:

Two months for 15 to 44 points;

Three months for 45 to 74 points;

Six months for 75 to 89 points;

Nine months for 90 to 99 points; and

12 months for 100 points or more.

There may be more points on a driver's record than those from the three tickets that caused the suspension. Points can stay on a person’s driving record for as long as five years. Thus, traffic tickets from previous years can count towards the point total. The suspension periods are longer if the driver’s license was suspended within the last seven years.

Avoiding Suspension

Once you have been convicted for a traffic violation, the points added to your driving record cannot be removed until they naturally expire. You can avoid a conviction by successfully contesting the ticket in traffic court or agreeing to take a defensive driving course. A McHenry County criminal defense attorney at Botto Gilbert Lancaster, PC, can advise you on whether to contest your traffic ticket. To schedule a free consultation, call 815-338-3838.

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